Agapanthus orientalis named &#39;Glen Avon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct selection of Lily of the Nile, which is denominated as  Agapanthus orientalis  named ‘Glen Avon’.

BACKGROUND

[0001] This invention relates to a new and distinct selection ofAgapanthus orientalis which is native to Southern Africa and a member ofthe amaryllis family. The new variety, Agapanthus orientalis cv. ‘GlenAvon’ was the result of a breeding program. The pollen parent isunknown. The new variety is from a cross made in 1987, and seed was sownin 1988. The first year of flowering was in 1991, and the original plantof the new ‘Glen Avon’ variety was selected from the seedlings in 1994which were being grown at New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. In 1995,the first initiation into tissue culture was made at LifetechLaboratories Ltd. located in Albany, Auckland, New Zealand.

[0002] The new plant has been asexually reproduced by tissue culturesince its discovery with such reproduction being performed at LifetechLaboratories location in Auckland, New Zealand. Through extensivepropagation through tissue culture, it has been established that theplant is true to type and the novel exceptional characteristics of thisnew plant are stable and reliably passed on to progeny through asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY

[0003]Agapanthus orientalis cv. ‘Glen Avon’ possesses extremely denseinflorescence. The quantity of florets is almost double that of atypical Agapanthus orientalis inflorescence. Due to the large number offlorets, the inflorescence typically exhibits a solid, rounded, compactball of 20 centimeters or more in diameter.

[0004] The petal color is a medium lilac-blue with the center midrib adarker lilac-blue, exhibiting a two-toned effect in each floret.

[0005] The perianth in Agapanthus orientalis is generally six (6)parted. Many of the flowers of the ‘Glen Avon’ selection exhibit aperianth that is six (6) to eleven (11) parted, producing a semi-doubleto double flower effect. The cultivar ‘Glen Avon’ has toleratedtemperatures as low as 10° F. and as high as 40° F. This is equivalentto an USDA hardiness zone of eight (8) to eleven (11).

[0006] It should be noted that growth and/or color varies with time ofyear, lighting conditions, and soil and nutrient conditions. Forexample, leaf colors may be brighter green if the plant is grown in soilwith greater nitrogen concentrations, and may be more yellow when grownin soil containing lesser amounts of nitrogen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0007]FIG. 1 is a photograph showing an entire ‘Glen Avon’ plant inflower.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a photograph showing a close up of flowers produced bythe cultivar ‘Glen Avon’. FIG. 2 shows the inflorescence exhibiting theextra parted perianth segments, the darker midribs and the dense roundedhead.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0009] Below is a detailed description of Agapanthus orientalis cultivar‘Glen Avon’. The color terminology is from The Royal HorticulturalSociety Color Charts. Measurements are based on plants grown inAustralia and also in California.

[0010] Overall habit: Herbaceous perennial.

[0011] Overall size: Maximum observed height from soil surface to top ofinflorescence as of this time ranges from 90 cm to 120 cm with a typicalheight range of 100 cm to 110 cm. Maximum height from soil surface toupper most of leaves at flowering time typically ranges to 50 cm tall.

[0012] Bloom Season in California: Bloom commences in early summer andcontinues up to about three months, thus, throughout summer monthsending in late summer.

[0013] Foliage: linear, strap-like.

[0014]Size.—Length: From base to up of mature foliage, typically longerthan 40 cm and generally shorter than 70 cm. Width: Maximum width ofmature foliage, typically wider than 4.0 cm, generally 5.0 cm.

[0015]Number.—Leaves per bud at flowering time, typically more thaneleven (11).

[0016]Shape of Leaf Tip.—Obtuse to slightly acute.

[0017]Margins.—Smooth, entire.

[0018]Color.—Upper leaf surface, Like Yellow-Green 147B. Lower leafsurface, Like Yellow-Green 147B.

[0019]Texture.—Slightly fleshy, succulent.

[0020] Inflorescence:

[0021]Arrangement.—Single umbel, no secondary inflorescence.

[0022]Width.—Maximum width at time of flowering typically wider than 20cm, on average 22 cm.

[0023]Height.—Side view at time of flowering typically ranging from 10cm to 20 cm, on average 13 cm.

[0024] Flower:

[0025]Scape.—Length: From soil surface to base of inflorescence at thetime of flowering typically over 80 cm, averaging 95 cm. Thickness:Typical maximum thickness at the middle point of the scape at the timeof flowering averaging 1.7 cm. Cross Section: Shape at middle point ofscape at time of flowering—elliptic. Angle: At time offlowering—straight. Color: At middle portion of the scape at time offlowering: Like Yellow-Green Group 147.

[0026] Florets:

[0027]Perianth shape.—Open, wide, spreading.

[0028]Number of Perianth Segments.—Total typically six (6) to eleven(11) segments, averaging eight (8).

[0029]Double perianth.—Perianth color: Inner: Like Violet-Blue Group 91B, C, D with center inner midrib like 91A. Outer: Like Violet-Blue Group91C on lower bottom half, like 91B with tint of Violet-Blue Like Group91A, also like Violet-Blue Group 91A along outside midrib. Mature: Asflowers age they darken to a like Violet-Blue Group 92A.

[0030] Number of Florets per Inflorescence: Typically more than 200 andranging from 200-300.

[0031]Florets.—Length: Side view from base to tip of floret, typically4.0 cm to 4.5 cm. Width: Diameter typically averaging 3 0 cm.

[0032]Pedicel.—Length: 6-7 cm long. Color: Like Yellow-Green 146C and146D.

[0033]Stamens.—Number: Eight (8). Arrangement: Adhere to within throattypically 1.6 cm from base, 2 cm long from perianth. Anthers: Typically3 cm in length Color: Like Yellow-Green 154D. Pollen color: LikeYellow-Green 154C.

[0034]Pistol.—Length of style: Typically averages 17 mm long.

[0035]Fruit.—Aloculicidal capsule, 4 angled. Size: Typically 3.5 cmlong×1.51 cm wide. Production: Only a few fruit are produced. Thirteen(13) fruit from 250 flowers, less than 6% if the florets in theseobservations produced fruit.

[0036] Disease resistance: As is typical of this species, the ‘GlenAvon’ cultivar exhibited a strong disease resistance under normalgrowing conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Agapanthus orientalis plant named ‘GlenAvon’ substantially as shown and described which differs distinctivelyfrom other Agapanthus orientalis plants by its unique combination ofsoft lilac florets with up to eleven petals per floret, flower headscomposed of an abundant number of individual florets, a low percentageof which produce fruit and a prolonged flowering period.